1-8 Handbook

Competitive Sport Merchant Taylors’ Prep believes in the value of both co-operative and competitive sport, and acknowledges this in all areas of its Physical Education curriculum. We recognise that these concepts cannot exist independently of each other, and it is the managed exposure of the two combined which ultimately raises standards in School sport. The School has a selection policy for both teams and individuals. It also clarifies the responsibilities and expectations of all stakeholders associated with Merchant Taylors’ Prep Sport. The full document is available at the start of the new academic year. for upholding our Fair Rules and Code of Conduct. Failure to do so will result in pupils, on an individual basis, losing some of those 30 ‘minutes’ of Privilege Time each week. A ‘minute’ is therefore a low-level sanction. Any pupil receiving 10 minutes in a week will receive a Minus Mark, which is a formal sanction about which parents are warned. Minus Marks may also be awarded directly for gross breaches of our Code of Conduct. They indicate that a pupil’s behav iour is inappropriate. Pupils who accumulate three Minus Marks in an academic year may be placed on report to their tutor (a white card). Those who receive six Minus Marks may be placed on report to their Head of House or Head of Section (a yellow card). Those who receive nine Minus Marks may be placed on report to the Senior Leadership Team (a red card), at which point more serious sanctions may then follow. Individual Music Tuition From Year 1 onwards, pupils may learn a musical instrument in school if you should wish. We offer a wide range of musical tuition from piano to saxophone and even drums. Forms are available from the School Office to complete and return to the Office. Details of where to hire instruments can be obtained from the Director of Music. In Year 1 Beginner Group Lessons offer pupils an opportunity to trial a variety of orchestral instruments (brass, woodwind and strings) before selecting one to study in formal one-to-one tuition from Year 2. In Years 2-8 individual lessons are available across all types of instruments (brass, woodwind, strings including guitar, percussion and piano) and in singing. Pupils are withdrawn from lessons on a rota basis, and must catch up the work missed. There is a large number of groups for pupils to participate in, including four choirs, and there are regular recitals, competitions and other performance opportunities, many in partnership with Merchant Taylors’ School.